Day 38: Gettin my mountain mojo on.

that’s the name of the place i went to visit today: mountain mojo. cute, huh?

well, the cafe, just about 10-15 minutes south of asheville, is a cute little log cabin place tucked away on the side of a highway. right in that space, it’s only the highway, the cafe, some trees, and a parking lot. it feels like you’re on a country road. and, you are. it’s not as far down south as the local joint, but about hallway between yesterday’s fika place and the city. i’d heard a few people mention mountain mojo to me, so i was excited to discover this little hideaway place.

the cafe is fairly new, opening sometime within the past year. i fell in love with the outside as soon as i drove up and over the mountain, the cafe coming into sight just as i rounded a corner and headed down the backside. the cafe was logs and wood. and let me tell you, i’m a sucker for logs and wood. i mean, it’s so appropriate for our surroundings. the weather was a little crazy, windy, cloudy, with intermittent peaks of sunshine. needless to say, i spent quite a bit of time outside, photographing the area, the cafe, the trees, the road, everything in sight. it all just felt so autumn-y and wonderful.

the cafe is fairly new, opening sometime within the past year. i fell in love with the outside as soon as i drove up and over the mountain, the cafe coming into sight just as i rounded a corner and headed down the backside. the cafe was logs and wood. and let me tell you, i’m a sucker for logs and wood. i mean, it’s so appropriate for our surroundings. the weather was a little crazy, windy, cloudy, with intermittent peaks of sunshine. needless to say, i spent quite a bit of time outside, photographing the area, the cafe, the trees, the road, everything in sight. it all just felt so autumn-y and wonderful.

i climbed the stairs to the front porch, under the lights which were strung to add a coziness factor (i believe) and i opened the door to find a huge wide open room. very animalistic. simple. clean. and new. the walls were a warm white/creme color. to the left was a corner with a sofa and 2 chairs – yes! however, they were both taken. boo. there was also a long table to the back left filled with about 6-7 retired adults, clearly having a meeting of some sorts. there was note-taking and serious discussion going on as they sipped their coffee and snacked on delicious goodies. more tables and chair were in the center, and the chairs were all school chairs. fun! in the back and on the right was the counter and the kitchen. everything was very open and airy.

but, let me tell you what was the best thing about opening the front door and stepping inside…. it smelled like baked goods heaven. i don’t know if it was cookies, cakes, muffins, scones, pies, or what, but it was a delicious aroma. and it made me feel all warm inside. i complimented the baker as i stepped up to order some coffee, and i noticed a sign for the perfect drink for the day: hot caramel cider chai. seriously, folks, doesn’t that just sound like autumn in the mountains? i ordered one of those and sat down at an empty table, pulling out my journal to write a bit.

and that’s what i did. i wrote. thought. and just enjoyed this little moment. it was a perfect solo fika.

after a while, i decided that it was time to go. i had passed a pumpkin patch on my way in, so i gathered up my things, grabbed my cup (it was already in a to go cup – i don’t know why), and headed to the car to hunt the perfect pumpkin for carving. i felt sure that this would be a cafe that i would visit again. i could tell that it was a gathering place for people in the fairview community, a place that was part of the community, offering local and organic foods & coffee. a place that perhaps is bursting with people in the spring and summer, hanging out in the field or under the trees. and a space where people can rent, meet, and enjoy the yummy things in life.

a perfect place for a country fika.

namaste.

About Liz McGuire

Liz is a blogger, writer, and amateur photographer in Asheville, NC. She is a returning expat, re-adjusting to American life after living in Sweden for the past three years. On any given day you can find her planning her next adventure with her wife, blogging away on her blog (www.belovelive.com) about daily life and social issues, and discovering little hidden gems and secret places in the city. She faithfully totes her camera and her coffee mug everywhere she goes. And she’s always up for a conversation about spirituality, politics, or other taboo topics. You can find her on the web at www.belovelive.com.